Théâtre Fairmount

5240 Avenue du Parc, Montreal QC

In an unassuming brick building, up a flight of stairs above a Park Avenue Supermarché, lies Théâtre Fairmount, the newest inhabitants of a space loaded with musical history. Over the years, the venue has been occupied by the bars Cabaret Mile-End and Kola Note, and the stage has hosted Oasis, Rufus Wainwright, the Go-Betweens and Ben Harper. “Le Fairmount,” as many call it, made its debut in 2015.

If you haven’t visited the newest iteration of the venue, here’s what you’ll find: ’70s-style wooden walls, a new dance floor (replacing the carpeting and rubber floors of old), and a higher ceiling that gives the venue a concert hall feel. The stage is low, thrusting out into the audience, and a state of the art sound system projects the bands to every corner of the 500-capacity space. There are two bars — one in the back and one on the side — with a standard assortment of drinks on offer. The space is usually crowded, noisy and boisterous, especially on show nights.